Refrigerated package



Nov. 25, 1952 J, c s 2,618,937

REFRIGERATED PACKAGE Filed Sept. 16, 1950 FIG. I

,3 6 INVENTORS E. J. FRANCIS,

Patented Nov. 25, 1952 UNITED STATE S PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATED PKCKAGE Ernest JJFtancis Richmond, Va. Application September 16, 1950, Serial No. 185,302

3 Claims. (01. 62-915) This invention relates to a refrigerated package, and more particularly to a refrigerated package or assembly of packages for the storage and for shipment of perishable food products.

The general object of the invention is to devise a package or assembly of this character which can be cheaply constructed and which is capable of maintaining foods and the like in an effective- 1y refrigerated condition by means of Dry Ice.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the provision of a package assembly so constructed that Dry Ice may be distributed in pockets throughout the same, and thus brought into close proximity to all parts of the mass of food to be preserved.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of box or container unit employed in building up my improved package assembly, the top and bottom portions of the box being shown as separated.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation on a reduced scale showing a series of such boxes stacked one on top of another, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, also on a reduced scale, showing how such boxes are grouped to form a package assembly.

Referring to the drawing in detail, my improved box or container consists of a lid portion A, and a similar base portion B, said portions telescoping together with a snug fit. The box is preferably relatively flat and shallow, as shown, and is of enerally rectangular configuration.

The base portion has a bottom, and vertical side and end walls I and 2, respectively. The corners are preferably beveled off as shown at 3, for a purpose hereinafter described.

Each side wall has, intermediate its ends, an off set portion la, and each end wall has a similar off set portion 2a, these off set portions of the walls formin notches 4 and 5 respectively.

The lid portion A likewise has vertical side and end walls, I and 2', having inwardly off set portions forming similar notches 4 and 5, and is likewise provided with beveled corners 3'. To facilitate opening the box, the lower edge of the side walls of the lid is preferably formed with cut-out portions or thumb notches 6.

The boxes may be made up from folded blanks of sheet material, such as cardboard, in any desired manner, or may be molded from plastic. The method of construction forms no part of the present invention.

The boxes abovedescribed are designed "to-contain perishable food products such as cut up fresh poultry or other meats, fish, shrimp, etc, and when used for packing such products are intended to be assembled side-by-side, in an outer carton C, of wood or heavy cardboard, as shown in Fig. 3.

When thus assembled, the notches 4 and 5 in the sides of the boxes adjacent the carton walls form with such walls refrigerant containing pockets. Similarly the notches 4 and 5 in the sides of the boxes which are in contact with each other register and mate to form vertical pockets 4a and 5a.

Likewise, at the point where four boxes join, the beveled corners 3 form a substantially square pocket 3a. These pockets 3a, 4a and 5a are thus distributed throughout the package assembly, and when filled with Dry Ice, serve to effectively refrigerate all parts thereof. It will be seen that the refrigerant is disposed in contact with all four sides of each box, and hence in close proximity to the contents.

It will be understood that not only are the boxes disposed in the carton in a layer as shown in Fig. 3, but that a plurality of layers are superposed one on the other, thus forming a stack, as indicated in Fig. 2. When thus stacked, the respective pockets in the various layers register with each other, thus forming at each pocket location 2. well or chamber extending from top to bottom of the assembly.

Where, in the appended claims, reference is made to sides or side walls," these terms are intended to include ends and end walls, as well.

What I claim is:

1. A refrigerating package assembly comprising an outer container, and a plurality of similar, relatively shallow, flat, generally rectangular closed boxes in said container, each box having a top, bottom and vertical sides, at least two sides of each box being notched out intermediate their ends, and said boxes being stacked in a series of layers, one on top of the other, each layer comprising a plurality of boxes disposed with one of their notched sides in contact with each other and the other notched side in contact with the container wall, whereby the mating notches in the sides of adjacent boxes which are in contact with each other form a plurality of pockets, and the notch in each of the sides in contact with said wall forms another pocket, the respective pockets in each layer being arranged in registry, thus forming continuous chambers extending vertically both between the boxes themselves and 3 between one side 01 the boxes and the container wall throughout the height of the stack, and adapted to contain a refrigerant.

2. A refrigerating package assembly comprising a plurality of similar, relatively shallow, flat, generally rectangular boxes, each havin a top, bottom, and vertical sides, all four sides being notched out at substantially the same respective locations on all boxes, said boxes being stacked in a series of layers; one on top of the other, and each layer comprising a plurality of boxes disposed with their sides in contact, the mating notches in the sides of the adjacent boxes in a layer forming a plurality of pockets, and the respective pockets in each layer being arranged in registry, thus forming continuous chamber extending vertically throughout the height of the stack of boxes and adapted to receive a, refrigerant.

3. A relatively shallow; flat, generally rectangular, closed box comprising similarly shaped lid and base portions, telescoping together with a snug fit, and when assembled, having a top,

bottom, and overlapping sides, at least two of said overlapping sides being notched out, so that when a plurality of such closed boxes are placed on a horizontal support with thei notch-ed sides in contact, the mating notches form a plurality of vertically extending pockets.

ERNEST J. FRANCIS REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 169,303 Simons Oct. 26, 1875 2,319,966 Wood et a1 May 25, 1943 2,371,271 Smith Mar. 13, 1945 2,467,268 Merkle Apr. 12, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 11,304 Great Britain Aug. 8, 1912 20,394 Great Britain Sept. 3, 1914 

